How much does conveyancing cost in Queensland?
Conveyancing costs in Queensland come in two parts: the professional fee your lawyer charges, and the disbursements paid to third parties on your behalf. The professional fee is the part you can compare and fix in advance. The disbursements are largely set by government and search providers.
Written by Michael Klein, Legal Practice Director, admitted 2003 · General information about Queensland law · Last reviewed 2026
Need advice on your own matter? Book a no-obligation consultation with Coastside Law in Golden Beach.
The professional fee
This is what the law practice charges for doing the work: reviewing the contract, giving you advice, corresponding with the other side, calculating adjustments and attending settlement. It is the figure you should insist on being fixed and in writing before you engage anyone.
At Coastside Law our conveyancing fee for a sale is $990 including GST. For a purchase it is $1,499 including GST, so you know the figure before you commit — no hourly billing and no surprises at settlement.
Disbursements — the costs paid on your behalf
Disbursements are not profit for the law practice; they are amounts paid out to others. Typical items in a Queensland residential transaction include:
- Title search and registered plan search
- Local council rates and water searches
- Body corporate searches and a disclosure statement, for units and townhouses
- State government searches such as land tax, transport and contaminated land where relevant
- Titles Office registration fees on the transfer and any new mortgage
- Bank or settlement platform fees for electronic settlement
Transfer duty (stamp duty)
Transfer duty is usually the single biggest cost for a buyer and is payable to the Queensland Revenue Office, not to your lawyer. The amount depends on the price and on whether you qualify for a concession — the home concession and the first home concession both reduce duty substantially, and eligibility depends on you moving in and on the property's value.
Sellers do not pay transfer duty. Get your duty position confirmed before you sign, because the concession rules turn on how you will use the property.
What a fair fixed fee should include
Watch for quotes that look cheap because parts of the job are priced as extras. A genuine fixed fee should cover the contract review, all standard correspondence, the searches ordered for a typical transaction, the settlement statement and attendance at settlement.
- Contract review and advice before you sign, where possible
- Managing cooling-off, finance and building and pest dates
- Ordering and reviewing standard searches
- Adjusting rates, water and body corporate levies
- Attending electronic settlement and confirming the outcome
Frequently asked questions
Is a conveyancer cheaper than a solicitor in Queensland?
In Queensland, conveyancing work must be done by a law practice — there is no separate licensed conveyancer profession as there is in New South Wales or Victoria. So the comparison is really between law practices, and fixed-fee firms are often the same price or cheaper than the national franchises.
When do I pay the conveyancing fee?
Usually at settlement, out of the settlement funds for a sale, or alongside the balance purchase price for a purchase. Some searches are paid earlier because they are ordered early in the transaction.
Are the fees the same for a unit as for a house?
The professional fee is generally the same, but a unit or townhouse involves body corporate searches and a disclosure statement, which adds to disbursements.
This guide is general information about Queensland law, current at the time of writing. It is not legal advice and does not take your circumstances into account. Call Coastside Law on 0488 340 853 for advice on your own matter.
Related questions
The questions people usually ask next on this topic.
- How long is the cooling-off period in Queensland?
- What if the building and pest report is bad?
- What should I know before buying from a mortgagee in possession?
Keep reading
Next steps
Where to go from here if this is your situation.
- 1Fixed-fee conveyancingBuying or selling on the Sunshine Coast — $990 to sell, $1,499 to buy, both incl. GST.See how we help
- 2Check the fixed feeExactly what our conveyancing costs, what is included, and what the third-party disbursements are.View our fees
- 3Talk it throughA short, no-obligation conversation with a lawyer at our Golden Beach office.Request a consultationCall 0488 340 853
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